Method and apparatus for generating directional and force vector in an input device

- Microsoft

A thumbpad input device that enables a user to generate direction and speed by manipulating a round elastic pad. The underside of the pad is lined with a set of uniformly spaced contacts positioned in a circular pattern. Each contact is paired with a corresponding switch that is coupled to a circuit board. When a user presses down on the pad, one or more contacts close their respective switches. The pad contacts and switches are designed so that the number of closed switches varies with the magnitude of the force applied to the pad. The thumbpad input device has a micro controller that monitors the switches. It determines the most clockwise closed switch and the most counter-clockwise closed switch. Presumptively, these two closed switches define the two endpoints of an arc of all closed switches. These endpoints are then forwarded to a host processor. The host processor processes these endpoints to calculate the direction and speed of the symbol which correspond with the user's manipulation of the rubber pad.

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Claims

1. An input device comprising:

a pad having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a plurality of switches positioned to be actuated from pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad;
a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated; and
a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on the actuated switches.

2. The input device according to claim 1 wherein the translator includes a look-up table having (X,Y) coordinates of the direction each switch represents and magnitude and direction of force input are calculated by using the look-up table to obtain direction coordinates of each actuated switch and adding the direction coordinates of the actuated switches together.

3. The input device according to claim 1 wherein the pad is shaped to conform to a portion of a thumb contacting the pad.

4. The input device according to claim 1 wherein the pad further comprises at least one directional reference member on the upper surface of the pad for allowing a user to manipulate the pad without looking at the pad.

5. An input device comprising:

a housing;
a pad received within the housing, the pad having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a board member received within the housing;
a plurality of switches secured to the board member, the switches facing the lower surface of the pad, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad;
a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated; and
a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated.

6. The input device according to claim 5 wherein the translator includes a look-up table having (X,Y) coordinates of the direction each switch represents and magnitude and direction of force input are calculated by using the look-up table to obtain direction coordinates of each actuated switch and adding the direction coordinates of the actuated switches together.

7. The input device according to claim 5 further including a means for biasing the pad away from the switches.

8. The input device according to claim 5 wherein the pad further includes a pivot member attached to the center of the lower surface of the pad, the pivot member resting on the board member.

9. The input device according to claim 5 wherein the pad is shaped to conform to a portion of a thumb contacting the pad.

10. The input device according to claim 5 wherein the pad further comprises at least one directional reference member positioned on the upper surface of the pad for allowing a user to manipulate the pad without looking at the pad.

11. The input device according to claim 7 wherein the pad is biased away from the switches by an annular member having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being secured to the perimeter of the pad and the outer edge being secured to the board member.

12. The input device according to claim 8 further comprising a plurality of actuating members affixed to the lower surface of the pad with each actuating member facing its respective switch, wherein the actuating members are angled with respect to the respective switches so that each actuating member makes a more solid contact with its respective switch when the actuating member pivots about the pivot member towards the respective switch and actuates the switch.

13. An input device comprising:

a housing;
a pad received within the housing, the pad having an upper surface and a lower surface, the pad including
a plurality of actuating members spaced relatively uniformly with each other and affixed to the lower surface of the pad;
a board member received within the housing;
a plurality of switches secured to the board member with each switch facing its corresponding actuating member and representing a particular direction, the switches being actuated by the corresponding actuating members when pressure is applied to the upper surface of the pad, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad;
a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated;
a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated.

14. The input device according to claim 13 wherein the translator includes a look-up table having (X,Y) coordinates of the direction each switch represents and magnitude and direction of force input are calculated by using the look-up table to obtain direction coordinates of each actuated switch and adding the direction coordinates of the actuated switches together.

15. The input device according to claim 13 further including a means for biasing the pad away from the switches.

16. The input device according to claim 13 wherein the pad further includes a pivot member attached to the center of the lower surface of the pad, the pivot member resting on the board member.

17. The input device according to claim 13 wherein the pad is shaped to conform to a portion of a thumb contacting the pad.

18. The input device according to claim 13 wherein the pad further comprises at least one directional reference member on the upper surface of the pad for allowing a user to manipulate the pad without looking at the pad.

19. The input device according to claim 15 wherein the pad is biased away from the switches by an annular member having an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being secured to the perimeter of the pad and the outer edge being secured to the board member.

20. The input device according to claim 17 wherein the actuating members are angled with respect to the respective switches so that each actuating member makes a more solid contact with its respective switch when the actuating member pivots about the pivot member towards the respective switch and actuates the switch.

21. A display control system comprising:

an input device comprising
a pad having an upper surface and a lower surface;
a plurality of switches positioned to be actuated from pressure applied to the upper surface of the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad; and
a sensor to detect which of the switches are actuated;
a translator to calculate magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated;
a display device;
a host controller connected to the display device for displaying symbols on the display device, the host controller including a processing means for moving a selected symbol on the display device with magnitude and direction of force input calculated by the translator.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein the translator includes a look-up table having (X,Y) coordinates of the direction each switch represents and magnitude and direction of force input are calculated by using the look-up table to obtain direction coordinates of each actuated switch and adding the direction coordinates of the actuated switches together.

23. The system according to claim 21 wherein the pad is shaped to conform to a portion of a thumb contacting the pad.

24. The system according to claim 21 wherein the pad further comprises at least one directional reference member on the upper surface of the pad for allowing a user to manipulate the pad without looking at the pad.

25. A method of generating magnitude and direction of force input by an input device, the input device comprising a pad, a plurality of switches actuated by pressure applied to the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, a sensor, and a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning the switches by the sensor for actuation of the switches, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad; and
calculating by the processor magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated.

26. The method according to claim 25 wherein the step of calculating magnitude and direction of force input comprises:

obtaining direction coordinates of each actuated switch from a look-up table having (X,Y) coordinates of the direction each switch represents; and
adding the direction coordinates of the actuated switches together.

27. A method of moving a symbol on a display device of a display control system, the display control system comprising a display device, a host controller connected to the display device, a processor, an input device having a pad, a plurality of switches actuated by pressure applied to the pad with each switch representing a particular direction, and a sensor, the method comprising the steps of:

scanning the switches by the sensor for actuation of the switches, the number of actuated switches varying with magnitude of pressure applied to the pad;
calculating by the processor magnitude and direction of force input based on how many switches have been actuated and which switches have been actuated; and
moving by the host controller a selected symbol on the display device with magnitude and direction of force input calculated by the processor.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein the step of calculating magnitude and direction of force input comprises:

obtaining direction coordinates of each actuated switch from a look-up table having (X,Y) coordinates of the direction each switch represents; and
adding the direction coordinates of the actuated switches together.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
4983786 January 8, 1991 Stevens et al.
5367316 November 22, 1994 Ikezaki
5479191 December 26, 1995 Komatsu
5563629 October 8, 1996 Caprara
5563630 October 8, 1996 Tsakiris et al.
Patent History
Patent number: 5670955
Type: Grant
Filed: Jan 31, 1995
Date of Patent: Sep 23, 1997
Assignee: Microsoft Corporation (Redmond, WA)
Inventors: Edwin Thorne, III (Seattle, WA), Mark T. Hanson (Lynnwood, WA), John P. Pennock (Bellevue, WA), Luis A. Reyes (Woodinville, WA)
Primary Examiner: Thomas Mullen
Assistant Examiner: Timothy Edwards, Jr.
Law Firm: Seed and Berry LLP
Application Number: 8/381,633